I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

[NW_Roy]

Installation went well.  I have PC with Win 7, using CS6.  I calibrate my monitor with Spyder Monkey 3.  I can take my files to a custom printer in the Seattle area and my print matches my file 99% of the time (night sky images need a little further adjusting).  I'm using Canon Paper.  My prints are coming out a little dark, or not quite as bright as what's on the monitor.  I understand that there may not be an exact match, but I was hoping for better.  I'm not a real technical type, but with good instructions I can get the job done.  Is there something more I need to do, or can do, to get a closer match to my monitor?  I really don't want to go through a lot of custom calibrations with custom profiles if I can avoid it.

I'm printing staight from CS6 (I have LR4, but don't use it a lot).  Selected the right paper; using CS6 for color management (using monitor profile in CS6).

[jrhoffman75]

Are your prints darker than you want, or just not as bright as the monitor? Most folks seem to have the monitor brighter than optimum.

I edit my prints in a room with no overhead lighting and use a desk lamp so that no light shines on the monitor. If I put my hand on the monitor surface the back of my hand is dark; no light shinng on it.

With that setup I calibrate my monitor to D50 and 80 cd/m^2 and my prints are right on with the monitor.

Go to this website: http://outbackprint.outbackphoto.com/printinginsights/pi049/essay.html

and download the test image and see how that prints.

[NW_Roy]

Thank you.  I was already warned by the camera store where I made the purchase that the prints probably wouldn't be as bright as the monitor.  But the prints are darker; they look more saturated than the monitor.  So it's not just brightness.  I use a monitor hood to shield the monitor from an overhead light; my apartment doesn't have a lot of options available for lighting.  After posting my question, I ran across a similar post and have played a bit with the settings of the printer profile.  Bottom line, I guess I still have a bit of work and experimentation to do.  

I will try the test print from the link you sent me.  I will also try to alter the calibration of the monitor a bit.  Excuse my lack of tech understanding, but your settings; are those for Brightness and Contrast?  Thanks again.

[jrhoffman75 · Accepted solution]

Hi. D50 is the color temperature and the other number is monitor brightness. Do you have a camera club in your town? Maybe you could contact them. Meanwhile, try setting your monitor brightness and contrast to 50 percent and see if that gives more pleasing results.

[NW_Roy]

Great, I'll give this a try.  Thanks again for the help.

[NW_Roy]

Hi,

I just wanted to follow-up my last reply with an update that the link to the test print image was a great help.  It helped inform me that the printer was working well and it was my monitor that needed tweaking.  Through more testing, I've found a good working solution for most of my prints.  I have some of night shots in the mountains that are still a bit dark, but I think that I'll need to work with the image a bit; it may look a little light on the screen, but will print OK.  People are quite amazed with the quality of the prints; Thanks again for the help.

[jrhoffman75 · Accepted solution]

You're welcome. Glad I could help. It is a terrific printer.

[Glaslar]

I also have the PRO100.  It is awsome.

Howver using the Canon ICM files for their glossy and

semigloss papers, I too got images that were a little dark.

I use an XRITE print and monitor calibrator and make my own

ICM files and the result is about perfect.

[ebiggs1]

There are really only three settings than need to be right on your monitor.  Those are brightness, contrast and grey-scale.  If these are even just close you willbe fine.  BTW, you don't need no monkeys or spiders to do this.

You must remember you are comparing two different mediuns here, light and dyes.

[NW_Roy]

I've talked to others, including a professional printer friend, who develop their own profiles.  I've been able, through a lot of testing and reading, to get good prints from Canon papers.  I've also be experimenting  with Hannamule and Moab papers with some  success, but only because I've gone through all the other testing and am  finally getting an idea of what the various adjustments do.  Patience has been my biggest friend.

I will check out XRITE.  Thanks for your post.

Roy